A Conservative MP has disclosed that she needs to keep her home address secret to prevent nuisance letters from male admirers.

Julie Kirkbride said that she had felt vulnerable after receiving disturbing correspondence. She disclosed that other female MPs were experiencing similar problems.

Mrs Kirkbride, a former Daily Telegraph reporter, made the comments during a debate on plans to keep MPs' home addresses secret. MPs backed the controversial plans.

"I have had cause in the past to talk to the police about people that have become a nuisance," she said.

"You never know if someone is going to explode and you can feel vulnerable sometimes.

"I have had some asking for a photograph who seem rational, but then they come back saying 'I am getting out soon and want to meet'. I still get them now.

"There are people who might have a grievance or a fixation and I feel a lot happier not making my home address freely available.

"In terms of personal safety and well-being I would feel better if my address was not freely available. If you saw some of the letters we get here, you would understand."

Currently the home address of every candidate is made publicly available when they stand for office. However, MPs have regularly complained that this is a threat to their safety.

Mrs Kirkbride who is married to another Conservative MP and has children, said: ``I don't want to make a big fuss about it, but I don't think it's unreasonable for me to want to take certain precautions given our work as MPs.

"I am certainly not the only woman MP that attracts attention like this, we are operating on our own at a lot of late night events.

"Where I live has very little street lighting and I am often there alone."